Mt. Vernon, AL to Mobile, AL

Day 18
Today we reached our destination on Mobile Bay. Play Dough will be docked here at Dog River Marina until mid January. We traveled about 700 miles and locked through 16 locks in the last 18 days. Along the way we purchased a total of 341 gallons of diesel with prices ranging $4.10, $3.35, $3.09 and $3.00. We have met many interesting and friendly 'boaters" along the way. We feel blessed to have had safe travel. We can't wait for the next journeys!

"Must be some new Stealth Military ship - it has guns!"

"A cruise ship in dry dock"

"The Coast Guard replacing buoys"

"We met this barge hauling a load of sea gulls!"

"This railroad bridge pivots to open, rather than lifting"

Coffeeville, Al to Mt. Vernon, AL

Day 15
traveled 69 miles, docked at Bobby's Fish Camp near Coffeeville, AL
Having been awake most of the night, we got an early start. After the long hours we stopped at Bobby's Fish Camp to rest and wait out the weather and enjoy the restaurant. Two fronts are headed for a collision and it may be rough.
Day 16
Off Day @ Bobby's Fish Camp - Some rain and strong winds, boy, it's good to be tied securely to a dock!

Day 17

traveled 79 miles, passed through 1 lock, anchored in Tensaw River near Mt. Vernon, AL
We got into heavy fog with 5 other boats after the Coffeeville Lock. We navigated by GPS, radar, and by talking to each other on the radio.

"Parking is limited at Bobby's"

"This is Bobby's-A Unique Place"

"Sunset on the Tensaw River"

"In the lock before the fog, no one knew the heavy fog was just beyond those lock doors."

Demopolis,AL to Pennington, AL- Adventures on the River

Day 13

Off Day. Relaxing in Demopolis and waiting on the weather. Rain started in the afternoon.
Day 14
29 miles, passed through 1 lock, anchored at Chickasaw Bogue near Pennington, AL
This Night Work is Killing Us!!!
To make a long story short... We were headed into an anchorage that our guidebook said we should be able to get in. A new sandbar had formed and we ran aground at 1:30 p.m. "We were anchored, without the use of an anchor!" Several barges came by but their wakes did not move us. Other than the barges, not a single boat came by. At 2:00 a.m., a tugboat captain asked if we'd like for him to pull us off. He maneuvered that enormous rig to within 100 ft. of us. Rodney cast our fishing line toward the barge, the deckhand cast his fishing line across ours and reeled it over to the barge. He attached our fishing line to a big 3" rope which Rodney carefully pulled in. We secured the big rope to our bow and soon we were off and floating again. Then came the job of getting anchored in a safe location till daylight. By 4:00 a.m. we were settled once again. What a blessing!!

"Parallel Parking in Demopolis"

"This is what you do when you run aground!"

"Beautiful Waterfalls created by the water flowing over Demopolis Dam"

Pickensville, AL-Demopolis,AL

There are changes in the river and the scenery as we move farther south. We noticed each passing tug boat captain has more cajun accent as we get closer to the coast. We rested well our first night on the anchor as we were in a protected cove away from the channel. 14 locks completed, with only 2 to go before we are back near sea level.
Day 10
Traveled 37 miles, passed through 1 lock, anchored in Sumter Recreation Area near Gainesville, AL
Day 11
Traveled 54 miles, passed through 1 lock, docked at Demopolis Yacht basin in Demopolis, AL. We followed a fellow boater "Lady Margaret" out of our anchorage at 6:30 am in fog. We had frost on the deck this morning!
Day 12
Off Day, resting, laundry, resupplying and keeping an eye on weather front moving in, trip planning

"First night at anchor-Sumter Landing"

"Yes, there is a boat we are following through the fog."

"Gail's post-retirement job"

"The White Cliffs of Eppes, AL, near the I-20 bridge"

"Demopolis Yacht Basin-Boy, parallel parking is tight here!"

Fulton, MS-Pickensville, AL

Day 7

No travel today. Being on the go every day leaves no time for extra chores. The routine-start out early, pull in around 2:00-4:00, get tied up, showers, dinner, and the day is gone. So we took advantage of this day off to do laundry, update the blog, and resupply. We spent a second night at Midway Marina in Fulton, MS

Day 8

Traveled 36 miles, passed through 3 locks, docked at Aberdeen Marina in Aberdeen, MS

We started the day in light rain, left over from the previous night.

Day 9

Traveled 51 miles, passed through 2 locks, docked at Pirate's Marina Cove in Pickensville, AL. Crossed back into AL from MS. Very windy day, required 3 attempts to get into the boat slip, but we made it!

"Midway Marina-Great place to spend 2 days"

"There are many industries along the Tenn-Tom"

"We had lots of company in this lock"

"We came up on this deer crossing the river."

"The 108 ft. snagboat Montgomery on display at Tom Beville Lock and Dam"

Rogersville, AL-Fulton, MS

As we continue to move west on the TN River, we have been blessed with sunny days and calm winds.

Day Four

Traveled 21 miles, passed through Wheeler and Wilson locks, docked at Florence Harbour Marina in Florence, AL, traveled to Florence in marina's courtesy van

Day Five

Traveled 41 miles, docked at Grand Harbour Marina at Counce, TN just after we turned off the TN River onto the Tenn-Tom waterway

Day Six

traveled 56 miles, passed through 3 locks - On our second lock there was a 90 minute delay for maintenance. Sundown came while we were in the third lock. This left 6 miles to go with a half moon and no clouds in the sky. We were guided into the marina by the dockmaster via radio. We had a 1/4 mile approach off the main channel between stumps and a mat of weeds. It was a relief to get tied to the dock! Several boaters were on the docks to watch this feat! We were greeted by one boater with a pan of fresh baked brownies!!

"Freedom" topping off with 6000 gals. of diesel"

"That's called Landscaping!"

"Smooth Waters"

"Try navigating through this without lights in the dark!"

Guild, TN-Rogersville, AL

After many months of preparation and anticipation, we untied our ropes from Hales Bar for the last time on Oct. 31 to begin our journey to Mobile Bay.

Day One

Traveled 53 miles, passed through Nickajack Lock, docked at Goosepond Marina in Scottsboro, AL.

Day Two

Traveled 44 miles, passed through Gunterville Lock, docked at Ditto Landing near Hunsville, AL

Day Three

Traveled 57 miles, had to wait for train to pass so bridge could be raised for us, docked at Joe Wheeler State Park near Rogersville, AL, enjoyed dinner at the lodge

"Wonder why they call it Goose Pond?"

"Lodge at Joe Wheeler State Park"

"Slight leak in lock door-Hope it holds!"

Color Cruise Weekend

This past weekend was the beginning of Hales Bar Marina's Fall Color Cruise Festival. We had more special guests onboard! Brock and Diane came up for the weekend. We enjoyed a colorful cruise on the Tennessee River. The four of us also went to nearby Rock City.
We're still busy making preparations as we will soon be heading south. We'll be making more frequent blog entries as we travel downstream. As we do, we'll be giving you locations that you'll be able to easily find on a road map.

"Brock & Diane's first cruise on Play Dough"

"The Fall Color Cruise Festival"

"Touring Rock City"

"View from Rock City"

Football Game/Cruise Weekend

Fall is in the air on the Tenn. River, with morning temps in the 40s. Our son and daughter-in-law, Adam & Heather visited us over the weekend. On Saturday we attended the Georgia Southern football game at Chattanooga. On Sunday, we cruised on the river and enjoyed a beautiful day. Heather wants to sign on as a full time crew member!!

"Adam & Heather enjoy the cruise"

"Adam & Gail securing the boat in Nickajack Lock"

"The Cranes like to hide in the lock walls."

"Notice our Play Dough shirts given to us by our 4 children"

Back from Houston

We've just returned from a six day trip to Texas. After Rodney's one year post operative visit with Dr. Rhines, we toured in Austin, Johnson City, San Antonio and Texas City, where we toured the Johnson Space Center. We flew out of Houston on Tuesday prior to Hurricane Ike's arrival on Friday. As for "Play Dough" the bottom paint has been completed and the boat was put back in the water while we were away. Our new furniture for the boat is at our home waiting to be moved onboard.

"The Texas Whitehouse of LBJ"

"The Alamo"

"San Antonio's Beautiful Riverwalk"
" A Mock Pod of the International Space Station "

"PlayDough being hauled out for Bottom Paint"

When are you leaving???

Since Gail's retirement date, our most frequently asked question is when are you leaving. As we've said before, we don't really have a schedule, but in trying to answer the question, October. Our rough plan includes some short TN river cruises, a trip to Houston for a Dr. appointment, then head south on Play Dough in the Fall.
In trying to get accustomed to our no schedule/no deadline lifestyle, we just returned from a "n0-destination" road trip to celebrate Gail's retirement. We spent two days on Play Dough at the marina, doing some sightseeing around Chattanooga. Then we spent two days at the Gaylord Hotel in Nashville. We traveled east to the Asheville/Brevard area, then headed south stopping at the GA Mountain Fair in Hiawasee before returning home.

"A retirement morning on Play Dough"

"In the Caves of Lookout Mountain"

"Our view inside the Gaylord Hotel"

"Sliding Rock near Brevard, NC"

"Georgia Mountain Fair"

Weekend of Work and Play

We're just back from a long weekend on the boat. We were able to complete some of the projects we had going, as well as spend some time away from the marina for cruising and training. Gail had time to experience some boat duties as both First Mate and the Captain. Moving the boat in and out of the slip takes some coordination as does anchoring. Gail's training time is short now that her retirement date is less than a month away. We continue to battle spiders at the boat slip. They descend from the roof over the boat nightly and make a mess of the deck as often. We just ordered some "Cob Web Preventor", we'll see how that works. Two of our original boat requirements were TV & recliners. Since our Dish is installed and our recliners are on order, we'll soon be ready for life aboard.

Rodney completes the name change.

Rodney at work on a pump in the engine room.

Gail at the helm!!

Gail testing water from the swim platform!

Beautiful Mountain Scenery